Texas Agent Commits Suicide as FBI Closes in

As FBI agents attempted to arrest him at a Fort Worth motel, a Tarrant County insurance agent who in May admitted guilt in federal fraud charges killed himself. According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, authorities would not say how the agent, Robert H. Copple II , committed suicide.

An arrest warrant was issued for Copple, who had plead guilty to two counts of mail fraud related to an insurance scheme, after he did not show up for an Aug. 2 sentencing hearing.

Copple, who had been in the insurance business for over 30 years, was indicted by a federal grand jury in March on 14 counts of mail fraud and forging securities.

The indictment alleged that Copple committed his fraudulent schemes between 1997 and 2000. The schemes reportedly involved the use of forged premium finance agreements and bank drafts. Copple was accused of spending premium payments from clients on personal and business uses rather than for purchasing policies for his customers.